Week of December 20 - December 24, 2010
Weekly Digest Week of December 20 – 24
COMMISSION MEETINGS No Commission Executive Sessions or Open Meetings were scheduled this week. ADVISORY OPINIONS AO 2010-30 (Citizens United). On December 21, the Commission approved Advisory Opinion 2010-30 (Citizens United). The Commission concluded that the rental of an email list by Citizens United to federal candidates, political party committees, and political committees as described in the request would not result in either a coordinated expenditure or a coordinated communication. The Commission could not agree, however, on whether the proposed rental program would constitute a prohibited corporate facilitation of communications under the Commission''''s regulations.
Advisory Opinions and Requests are available here. ENFORCEMENT The Commission made public three closed cases and a Statement of Reasons. MUR 6200 – Senator John Ensign; Michael and Sharon Ensign; and Ensign for Senate and Lisa Lisker, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the case. A Statement of Reasons was issued by Chairman Matthew S. Petersen, Vice Chair Cynthia L. Bauerly and Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter, Donald F. McGahn, and Ellen L. Weintraub. Commissioner Steven T. Walther recused himself with respect to this matter and did not vote.
MUR 6280 – Representative Howard L. Berman; Berman for Congress and Bruce Corwin, in his official capacity as treasurer; Michael Berman; Yes on FAIR and Frederic D. Woocher, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Daniel Lowenstein. The Commission found no reason to believe the respondents violated the Act.
MUR 6298 – Vernon A. Jones; and Vernon Jones for Georgia and Patricia Moore, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the case.
For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES The Commission made public two campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program.
AF 2119 – Black Americans for Real Change and Selena Owens, in her official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $312.
AF 2141 – Sean Salazar for Senate and Sean Salazar, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $990.
For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System. LITIGATION Bluman v. FEC. On December 21, the Commission filed a Motion to Dismiss the plaintiffs’ complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
CREW v. FEC. On December 21, plaintiffs filed an Opposition to FEC''''s Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
FEC v. Kazran. On December 17, the Commission filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District in Florida.
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE The Commission made available the 2011 Reporting Dates for Congressional Committees, PAC, Party and Presidential Committees.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
January 31: Year-end Reports are due. For more information on reporting dates, click here.
UPCOMING EVENTS January 12, 2011, Washington, DC. FEC Roundtable Workshops on FEC Reporting Requirements. Registration information and schedule are here.
January 12, 2011, Washington, DC. FEC Roundtable Workshops on FECFile & E-Filing. Registration information and schedule are here.
OTHER RESOURCES The December issue of The Record is here. Sign up here to receive email notification when a new issue of the Record is posted.
The December 2010 Supplements to the FEC’s Campaign Guides are here.
Sunshine Act Notices for previous Executive Sessions are here. Agendas and related documents for previous Open Meetings are here. Audio recordings for selected previous meetings, hearings and presentations are here.
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